21 spectacular pictures that will make you want to travel to Ireland

Known as "The Emerald Isle," the country lives up to its name. The green countryside offers unique natural experiences, while the cities and towns also have everything that foodies and shopaholics could desire.

So whether you stand on a cliff looking out over the Atlantic Ocean or get lost in the long hallways of old monarchic buildings, you're bound to fall in love with this country immediately.

Here are 21 pictures that will convince you to visit Ireland:

1/

Enjoy the breathtaking landscape of the Connemara National Park.

Shutterstock

Located on the west coast of Ireland, the Connemara National Park offers flora and fauna covering over 5,000 acres of mountains, heaths, grasslands, and bogs.

Feel the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean on the Cliffs of Moher.

Shutterstock

The 700-foot-high cliffs not only offer a spectacular view of the churning Atlantic, they are also a must-see for every "Harry Potter" fan. This is the place where Harry and Dumbledore searched for a Horcrux in the "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" movie.

Try local seafood when visiting the Dingle Peninsula.

Stop for a bite to eat at the little village Dingle, which gave the peninsula its name.

5/

Get lost in Dublin's picturesque streets.

Shutterstock

Ireland's capital as well as its largest city should be number one on your visiting list. The city is full of historical places and lively pubs, not to mention small art, book, and clothing stores.

Don't miss Trinity College, the prestigious university founded in 1592 that impresses with its historical campus and buildings. Grafton street — one of the main shopping streets — is another must-see, with important sights like the St. Stephen's Green.

6/

The ancient Giant's Causeway will leave you in awe.

Shutterstock

As you can see, this causeway doesn't look like it's entirely from this earth. The ancient peoples of Ireland believed it was built by giants — that's how it got its name.

Learn Gaelic while visiting the Aran Islands.

Shutterstock

The Aran Islands have car-free roads, seals, and traditional Irish villages without many modern developments. It's also one of the few places where people still speak Gaelic, an old native language of Ireland.

Traditional Irish music will make you dance your feet off.

Shutterstock

A traditional Irish music seisún (pronounced: seh-shoon) is mostly started with a guitar. But you don't have to wait long before fiddles, tins, whistles, flutes, and pipes join and people start to dance.

The best place to join one of these seisúns is probably the coastal village Doolin, on the west coast of Ireland. It is known to be the center of traditional Irish music.

Experience what life was like for royalty in Ireland's Castle Hotels.

When in Ireland, spending at least one night in one of the many castle hotels should be definitely on your bucket list.

You'll feel like a real royal when you dine in spacious dining halls, sleep in canopy beds, and take a bath with a view of the beautiful gardens. The hotels are also often used for weddings, understandably so when you take a look at their honeymoon suites.

19/

Treat yourself with some traditional Irish food.

Shutterstock

What Guinness is to beer drinkers, Ireland's soda bread and one-pot stew is to the foodies.

Aside from excellent seafood that you can try all over the coastline, you shouldn't leave Ireland without trying these. Soda bread recipes vary from family to family, but the flour-based dough is typically enriched with dried fruits, honey, oats or even Guinness.

Spend a romantic day at Kylemore Abbey.

As a monument to her, Henry built a small cathedral on the castles ground. From 1923 to 2010 it gave rise to a school run by benedictine nuns. Don't forget to visit the enchanting Victorian walled garden.

21/

Cork's colorful streets are a treat for every photographer.

Shutterstock

The highly proud locals call it the "real capital of Ireland." An Instagrammer or photographer's heart will surely beat faster when they see the beautiful city-center, filled with colorful houses and coffee bars in every street.